Discussing Liverpool’s second goal from Saturday

A couple of days later than planned, but a quick word about Daniel Sturridge’s goal on Saturday.

I don’t wish to take anything away from Sturridge, because from the position above he has a lot to do to score - and he does take the goal absolutely brilliantly - but just a quick word about the Palace defending.

From that position, the pass across the box is really low-percentage, so it’s absolutely inevitable that Sturridge is going to try to get the ball on his left foot - how many times have we seen him do that? So with that in mind, it’s criminal that the attending defenders give him the space and angle to score from. There are three different players who are in a position to remove the danger, or block the eventual shot, and not one of them really does anything.

The release on the shot is so quick, and the shot is so precise, that you can’t help but admire Sturridge’s finish, but if Palace defend like that, then they’ll be down by January. If you’re a limited team, with scarce resources and a small talent-pool, then you have to get basics like this right.

2 Comments

Thought you were going to point out that shooting for goal from that attacking position defines Sturridge’s achilles heel. IMO he should never have shot from that position because in at least 9 out of 10 attempts the player would have failed to score. Regrettably, I think Liverpool will eventually pay for his failure to pass to a better positioned colleague.I think your picture shows a that cross goal pass would have provided a tap-in for Sterling. Sturridge really must become a team player and supply team mates who are better positioned.. (Please don’t point out his crosses to Suarez - he had no other option)
The same greed for goals has long since undermined Spurs Defoe.

You have to remember they have Suarez and Moses to think about. It’s Liverpool’s most valuable weapon-commit to one and the other stings you. Sturridge rarely shoots with his right but he does pass with it. And he did hit the bar with a right footed shot in this same match. Not so simple.